Expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1? in the lungs of rats with hypoxic pulmonary hypertension / 中国呼吸与危重监护杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1? (HIF 1?) in the lungs of hypoxic rats and to explore the role of HIF 1? in the pathogenesis of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension Methods Twenty Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group and hypoxia group The models of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension were established by exposure to hypoxia for 4 weeks according to our laboratory protocol Digoxin labelled cRNA probe for HIF 1? was prepared by in vitro transcription Northern blot was performed by using the HIF 1? cRNA probe and In situ hybridization was also conducted with rat lung tissue sections Results Northern blot hybridization showed minimally positive in the lung tissue of control group ,but strongly positive in hypoxia group In situ hybridization analysis with hypoxic rat lung tissue revealed that HIF 1? mRNA was expressed in bronchial epithelial cells (strongly positive reaction) and peribronchial proliferative lymphomatic tissue (weakly positive reaction),casually in alveolar wall cells (weakly positive reaction),but not in pulmonary arterial endothelium and smooth muscle cells Conclusions Our data suggested that chronic hypoxia could induce pulmonary hypertension characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling HIF 1? mRNA expression was elevated in the lungs of rat under hypoxic condition HIF 1 may be involved in the pathophysiological changes in response to hypoxia and play an important role in the development of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension